Why You Should Play Monster Hunter: World Before Wilds

As one of Steam's most pre-ordered games, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to be a monumental addition to the series. For those new to the franchise, diving into the intricate world of Monster Hunter can be daunting. While Wilds will undoubtedly feature a comprehensive tutorial, the depth and complexity of the series may still be overwhelming. To ease your transition into the vast and perilous world of Monster Hunter Wilds, we highly recommend starting with 2018's Monster Hunter: World.

Our recommendation for Monster Hunter: World isn't based on narrative connections or cliffhangers that might leave you confused in Wilds. Instead, it's because World mirrors Wilds' style and structure, providing an excellent introduction to the series' often complex systems and gameplay loop. By playing World, you'll be well-prepared for what awaits in Wilds.

Why Monster Hunter: World?

If you've followed Capcom's recent releases, you might wonder why we suggest World over the newer Monster Hunter Rise. While Rise is a fantastic game and the most recent in the series, Wilds appears to be a direct successor to World rather than Rise. Rise introduced innovative features like rideable mounts and the Wirebug grapple mechanic, but these came at the cost of the larger, seamless zones that World offered. Originally designed for the Nintendo Switch, Rise's gameplay focuses on speed and smaller zones, which streamlined the hunt-upgrade-hunt cycle but sacrificed some of World's scale and depth. Wilds seems to be reclaiming and expanding upon these elements from World, making it the ideal precursor.

World's expansive zones and emphasis on tracking monsters through a detailed ecosystem serve as the blueprint for Wilds' larger open areas. This makes World the perfect game to prepare you for what's to come. The thrill of long hunts across varied terrains is where modern Monster Hunter excels, and we expect Wilds to continue this tradition. Why wait when you can experience it now with World?

It's worth noting that Wilds' story isn't a direct continuation of World's, but World's approach to story and campaign structure will set your expectations for Wilds. You'll encounter familiar elements like the Hunter's Guild and your Palico companions, though these will be independent of previous entries. Think of it like the Final Fantasy series, where recurring elements like Cid and Chocobos exist across different, unconnected stories.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and Wilds' campaign structure, the strongest argument for playing World first is its challenging combat. Wilds features 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles and strategies, all of which are also in World. By playing World, you can start mastering these weapons, understanding their techniques, and determining which suits your playstyle best. Whether it's the nimble dual-blades or the powerful greatsword, each weapon in Monster Hunter demands focus to master. World serves as the perfect training ground to build your proficiency.

In Monster Hunter, your weapon is your primary means of progression. Unlike traditional RPGs, you don't gain skill points through experience; instead, your abilities and stats are tied to your weapon. World will teach you how to upgrade weapons using parts from slain monsters and navigate the weapon tree. It also emphasizes the importance of positioning and attack angles over raw damage output. Knowing where to strike a monster can be crucial—whether it's slicing off tails with a Longsword or knocking enemies down with a Hammer.

Understanding the tempo of each hunt is crucial, and World introduces tools like the Slinger, which returns in Wilds. Learning when to use Flash Pods or poison knives can significantly impact your battles. Crafting Slinger ammo from environmental resources is another skill you'll hone in World, preparing you for Wilds' crafting system.

As you delve deeper into World, you'll uncover more layers of the Monster Hunter experience. The gameplay loop involves tracking monsters, gathering materials like ore and honey for crafting, and preparing for the hunt. This routine becomes second nature, giving you a significant advantage as you approach Wilds.

Each hunt in Monster Hunter is designed to be a thoughtful, time-consuming endeavor, not a quick kill. Understanding the nuances of different monsters, like the fire-breathing Anjanath or the bomb-dropping Bazelgeuse, builds foundational knowledge crucial for Wilds. With Wilds aiming to capture the same scope and spectacle as World, the 2018 game is the ideal training ground.

As an added incentive, importing save data from World into Wilds can unlock free Palico armor, and additional armor sets if you have data from World's Iceborne expansion. It's a small but fun bonus for dressing up your feline companions.

While it's not necessary to play previous Monster Hunter games before starting a new one, the series' unique systems and mechanics are best learned by playing. Capcom continues to refine the learning curve with each release, but there's no better way to prepare for Monster Hunter Wilds than by immersing yourself in Monster Hunter: World. As we approach Wilds' launch on February 28, 2025, there's never been a better time to familiarize yourself with the series and its community.